Stereotype-plate-cutting apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. SCOTT. STEREOTYPB PLATE CUTTING APPARATUS. No. 583,637;

Patented June 1,1897.

ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WI. SCOTT.

STEREOTYPE' PLATE CUTTING APPARATUS. No. 583,637. Patented June 1,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WALTER SCOTT, OF PLAINFIELD, NElV JERSEY.

STEREOTYPE-PLATE-CUTTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,637, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed January 30, 1895. SerialNo. 536,636. (No model.)

T 0 (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VALTER SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype -Plate- Cutting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for trimming or cutting stereotype-plates to get them to the proper thickness and contour for going upon the cylinders of printing-presses. It includes the fast and loose pulleys and the cutter mechanism, in combination with means for automatically returning the belt to the loose pulley after the cutting or shaving shall have been completed. It also includes a brake and means for automatically applying the same to the fast pulley after the belt has been moved therefrom. It alsoincludes an ejector and means for operating it. It also includes means for preventing the chips or shavings or other matter from preventing the return of the ejecting-bar to its normal position against a stop, and other combination, as will hereinafter appear.

The preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an end view of the machine, showing the fast and loose pulleys, the cutter and the cutter operating mechanism, the ejecting-bar and its operating mechanism, and the automatic devices such as above referred to. Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a view of the belt-shifting devices and brake shown in Fig. 1, these parts being in the positions they occupy when the belt is on the fast pulley; and Fig. 4 is a side view of a modification of the means for causing the ejecting-bar to come into contact with its stop irrespective of any shavings or chips which may fall into the stereotype-holder. Fig. 5 is an endwise view, partly in vertical section, showing the plate-ejector and operating parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference letterA marks a suitable framework for supporting the plate-holder B and the operative mechanisms. The plate-holder B is of the usual form and is provided along its axiswith the shaft 0, which is journaled in suitable boxes and which is provided with a worm-wheel D fast thereon and with the cutter or knife E, which is or may be adjustable upon its holder in order to get the proper thickness of the stereotype-plate and for other purposes. The worm-wheel D is driven by the worm F, which is carried by the shaft G, extending transversely to the machine and journaled in suitable bearings. Upon the shaft G are the fast pulley H and the loose pulley I, by means of which the knife E is controlled. The belt K is moved by means of the shifter L, having pins 1, between which the belt passes, the said shifter L being guided in suitable ears or lugs M on the framework or plate-holder. The shifter L has a bar N parallel and rigidly fixed thereto on one side, which bar passes loosely through the lug it upon the fixed framework. Between the lug n and the point of attachment of the bar N to the shifter L is placed a spring 0, which operates to move the shifter L so that the belt K shall be kept upon the loose pulley.

According to this invention there is a detent device which operates to hold the shifter in position to keep the belt upon the fast pulley H. The detent shown consists of the latch P, which is pivoted to the stationary framework of the machine and has a pin resting against the stop 19. A pin Q on the shifter is adapted to lift this latch as the shifter is moved in the direction contrary to that in which the spring 0 moves it, and when the belt is fully upon the fast pulley H the latch drops over the pin, as shown in Fig. 3, thus holding the shifter L in the position there shown. The shifter is prepared with a camsurface R, which coacts with the pin S on the brake-lever T to apply the brake U upon the fast pulley H whenever the shifter moves so as to bring the belt upon the loose pulley, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In order to automatically return the belt to the loose pulley, I provide a pin or trip W on the face of the worm-wheel D in such position that when the kni'feE has completed its work the said pin will lift the latch P and allow the spring 0 to perform its function of returning the belt to the loose pulley, at which time the knife E comes to rest, for the brake U is simultaneously applied to the fast pulley H.

The plate-ejecting means shown consist of a bar a, which is carried by arms 1) upon the gear-segments c, which are loosely journaled upon the shaft C hereinbefore named. These segments a are in mesh with similar segments (Z, which are borne by arms from the shaft 6, suitably journaled in the framework parallel with the shaft 0. The shafte is operated by means of the treadle f, the rod 9, and the arm h, to which the rod 9 is pivot-ally connected. A spring 7a, surrounding the rod 9 and abutting against a fixed collar thereon and a fixed lug m on the framework, keeps the treadle f in its upper position and, through the mechanism described, the bar (1- against the stop 2 on the plate-holder B. After the cutting is done the workman, by pressing; down the treadle f, moves the parts operated thereby to the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and so moves the plate partially out of the holder into position whence it can be readily lifted by hand.

In order to insure the return of the bar a into position in contact with the stop 2, (the bar a forming the ejector for the stereotypeplate and being of the thickness of the finished plate or less must be returned to one position at all times in order that all parts of the plate may be within the holder and so be supported during the cutting operation) I provide either a muslin orother cloth 3, which is attached to the bar a and hangs over the side of the apparatus, and which is provided with a weight 4 at its loose end, or I provide the bar a with pointed teeth 5 on its upper edge-that is, the edge which comes in contact with the stop 2. The muslin cloth will catch any shavings or chips or the like which may fall from the knife E and prevent them from getting between the bar a and the stop 2.

In the case of the modification shown in Fig. 4: the pointed teeth 5 will readily turn aside or pass through any loose shavings or chips which may fall upon the bar a and themselves come into contact with the stop 2. Of

course the shavings, &c., are swept out of the ends of the holder as occasion requires.

Many changes may be made in the details of the invention, which is not limited to the precise forms shown in the accompanying drawings and above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stereotype-cutting apparatus, the combination with the fast and loose pulleys, of the cutting mechanism,and the belt-shifter, of means operating to move the belt on the loose pulley, a detent for holding the shifter when the belt is on the fast pulley, and a wiper or trip releasing said detent, whereby the belt is shifted automatically to the loose pulley when the cutting is done, all substantially as described.

2. In a stereotype-cutting apparatus, the

combination with the plate-holder, of a plateejecting bar,a stop therefor, and means whereby chips, &c., are kept from interfering with the return of the bar to stop, substantially as described.

3. 111 a stereotype-cutting apparatus, the combination with the plate-holder, of a plateejecting bar, a stop therefor and a cloth attached to said bar and passing over said stop, whereby chips, &c., are prevented from getting between said bar and stop, substantially as described.

4. In a stereotype-cutting apparatus, the combination of the knife-bearing shaft, arms journaled thereon, an ejector carried by said arms, and means for operating said arms, substantially as described.

5. In a stereotype-cutting apparatus, the combination of the knife-bearing shaft, arms journaled thereon, an ejector carried by said arms, a treadle and connections for operating said arms, substantially as described.

6. In a stereotypecutting apparatus, the combination of the knife-bearing shaft, arms journaled thereon, an ejector carried by said arm s,segm ental gears for operating said arms, a treadle and connections for operating said gears, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of January, A. D. 1895.

'WALTER SCOTT.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES A. BRODEK, R. W. BARKLEY. 

